The Purus, Russas and Valparaiso Projects involve numerous local and international partners that will collectively protect more than 250,000 acres in the Amazon Rainforest – the world’s largest rainforest - from slash-and-burn forest clearing and prevent millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Avoided deforestation projects are critical because about 15 percent of global warming is attributed to deforestation, which reduces the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. Moreover, fallen trees decompose and release methane, a heat-trapping gas about 23 times more potent than CO2.

The Purus Project was successfully validated to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Gold Distinction in January 2013 and was then successfully verified in December 2013. The Purus Project is now being reviewed again for verification to the VCS and CCBS to assess the Project’s performance from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

The Russas and Valparaiso Projects were successfully validated to the VCS and CCBS with Gold Distinction in March and July 2014. Both Projects are now being reviewed for verification to the VCS and CCBS to assess the Projects’ performance from March 2011 to December 2013.

The Purus, Russas and Valparaiso Projects are Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) projects that mitigate deforestation, preserve extraordinary biodiversity, and provide alternative economic opportunities to local communities. Social projects and activities to mitigate deforestation pressures and benefit the local communities include, but are not limited to: agricultural extension training, forest patrols of potential deforestation sites, improving local schools and health clinics, and eventually building better houses and installing solar photovoltaic panels for the local communities to improve their livelihoods.

The Purus, Russas and Valparaiso Projects will also provide a variety of essential ecosystem services such as: erosion and flood control; water cycling, filtration and storage; oxygen production and nutrient recycling; genetic repository for medicinal plants; and habitat for thousands of native Amazonian animal (including scarlet macaws and Amazon River dolphins) and plant species.

As Carbonfund.org is greatly excited about the validation of our Purus Project, the first ever REDD+ project in the State of Acre, to achieve dual-validation to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Gold Distinction, it is important to also understand the potential broader implications of the Purus Project as it attempts to set the framework for potential REDD+ project inclusion into Phase 2 of the California Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) providing a confidence boost for the development of broader REDD+ projects around the globe.

Back in November, the State of California launched its first auction for Phase 1 of their ETS from 2013 to 2014.

California’s AB-32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act, regulates more than 300 facilities emitting over 25,000 metric tonnes of CO2 each year with a plan to reduce GHG emissions to 427 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (MMTCO2e) by 2020 from the baseline of 507 MMTCO2e.

The State of California plans to allow emitters to cover a portion of their compliance obligations with offset credits. In Phase 1 of the program, these credits could come from projects in the United States that reduce emissions in the following sectors of: national forestry, urban forestry, ozone depleting substances and agricultural methane.

However, in Phase 2, commencing in 2015, we are hopeful that the scheme will allow offsets from REDD+ projects in Acre, Brazil, as the State of Acre has a signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the State of California, attempting to work this out. At this time, it is still unclear how the program will work.

If California accepts REDD+projects into the marketplace, it is possible for the Purus Project to be the first project leading the way for broader investment being placed into this forest protection and payment for ecosystem service projects.

Though there are still several prominent steps toward REDD+ inclusion into the California ETS, we will continue to create the best possible projects we can to protect these rainforests and its biodiversity while enhancing the lives of local communities.

As Carbonfund.org is greatly excited about the validation of our Purus Project, the first ever REDD+ project in the State of Acre, to achieve dual-validation to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Gold Distinction, it is important to also understand the potential broader implications of the Purus Project as it attempts to set the framework for potential REDD+ project inclusion into Phase 2 of the California Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) providing a confidence boost for the development of broader REDD+ projects around the globe.

Back in November, the State of California launched its first auction for Phase 1 of their ETS from 2013 to 2014.

California’s AB-32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act, regulates more than 300 facilities emitting over 25,000 metric tonnes of CO2 each year with a plan to reduce GHG emissions to 427 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (MMTCO2e) by 2020 from the baseline of 507 MMTCO2e.

The State of California plans to allow emitters to cover a portion of their compliance obligations with offset credits. In Phase 1 of the program, these credits could come from projects in the United States that reduce emissions in the following sectors of: national forestry, urban forestry, ozone depleting substances and agricultural methane.

However, in Phase 2, commencing in 2015, we are hopeful that the scheme will allow offsets from REDD+ projects in Acre, Brazil, as the State of Acre has a signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the State of California, attempting to work this out. At this time, it is still unclear how the program will work.

If California accepts REDD+projects into the marketplace, it is possible for the Purus Project to be the first project leading the way for broader investment being placed into this forest protection and payment for ecosystem service projects.

Though there are still several prominent steps toward REDD+ inclusion into the California ETS, we will continue to create the best possible projects we can to protect these rainforests and its biodiversity while enhancing the lives of local communities.